Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipients to give keynote presentations to campus
Two Kansas State University graduates — Jill Applegate ’16, New York, New York, and Tera Rooney Barnhardt ’12, ’14, ’15, Johnson, Kansas — are the recipients of the K-State Alumni Association Student Alumni Board's 2024 Distinguished Young Alumni Award.
The award recognizes two K-State graduates who are 35 or younger and are using the scholarship, leadership and service experience they acquired at K-State to excel in their professions and contribute to their communities. The Association and Student Alumni Board are honored to have Barnhardt and Applegate give keynote presentations on March 5 in the Wildcat Chambers of the K-State Student Union. Applegate will give the first presentation at 3:30 p.m. Barnhardt will present at 4:30 p.m.
"This award honors accomplished young graduates while creating new ties among alumni, students and faculty," said Adam Walker ’04, ’09, Alumni Association president and CEO. "The Alumni Association is pleased to support the Student Alumni Board in presenting this award to Tera and Jill."
Applegate is a Skadden Fellow at the Neighborhood Defender Service. She earned two bachelor's degrees from K-State in modern languages and political science in 2016. Additionally, Applegate earned a juris doctor from the University of Texas at Austin.
“I admire the authenticity of her goals,” said Jim Hohenbary ’95, director of the university honors program. “As a student she was concerned about immigration issues. She seemed committed and well informed about those issues then, but it is still impressive to me that she has stayed true to those aspirations through the trajectory of her career.”
“She wants to push the boundaries of what sorority life currently looks like, and use the experience and platform as a transformational opportunity,” said Tamara Bauer, Alpha Delta Pi advisor, worked closely with Jill in this role. Not only is Jill able to perform all aspects of her role well, but she continues to dance on the edge of her authority to help be a catalyst for positive change. Her peers respond positively to her as she asks powerful questions, questions current systems and inspires them to think about what could be.”
“Jill’s time at K-State was intentionally designed,” said Kaitlin Long, her nominator. “She identified her academic and career goals from the onset of her undergraduate career and pursued opportunities that not only contributed to the campus, Manhattan, and global communities, but also pushed her closer to her own goals.”
While at K-State, Applegate was involved in numerous organizations including Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Student Governing Association, New Student Services, Student Foundation, K-State Proud, Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows, and International Service Teams volunteering with the Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring (DREAM) Project. Applegate also served as Presidential Lecture Series coordinator and an undergraduate research assistant to Alisa Garni in the sociology department. Additionally, she was a Truman Scholarship finalist, received the Mortar Board outstanding junior award, among many other accomplishments.
Barnhardt is a veterinarian focused on animal welfare research and consulting. She earned three degrees from K-State, a bachelor's degree in animal sciences and industry in 2012, a doctor of veterinary medicine in 2014 and a master’s degree in biomedical science in 2015.
As a K-State student, Barnhardt served as a College of Agriculture Ambassador, was a member of Sigma Alpha sorority and was a Kassebaum Scholar. She also served on the National Junior Maine-Anjou Association. During her time in veterinary school she was active in the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the Academy of Veterinary Consultants. She was also selected to be part of the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas, a program funded by the Kansas Legislature to provide financial assistance to veterinary students intending to practice medicine in rural Kansas.
While working on a master’s degree in biological and biomedical sciences, she served as a member of Phi Zeta honorary. Additionally, she co-authored a book chapter on beef cattle welfare and developed training modules on animal management for beef industry employees.
“Tera is a role model in her community, charged with connecting modern animal agriculture practices with today’s consumers,” one of her nominators Cassandra K. Jones ’07, ’09 said. “Tera advocates for rural America and animal health programs, actively testifying to the Kansas Legislature to continue to fund opportunities for rural veterinary practitioners.”
“Dr. Barnhardt was a visible student leader while pursuing a rigorous and challenging academic dual-degree path,” said Dr. Bonnie Rush, another nominator. “Dr. Barnhardt has served livestock producers by providing emergency and routine medical care and consultation advice to improve animal welfare and productivity in areas of Kansas with limited veterinary resources.”
"Jill and Tera have had outstanding accomplishments so early in their careers," said Tamie Redding ’86, associate director of student programs and Student Alumni Board advisor. "We are excited to honor these two amazing young professionals and look forward to hosting them on campus so they will have the chance to meet with and inspire our current K-State students."
For more on the Distinguished Young Alumni program, visit k-state.com/DYA.